Sep 23, 2022

Seminis watermelon, Jet Ski, ready to make a splash

A new watermelon variety from Seminis is designed to help growers make a splash in the early season market.

The variety, Jet Ski, is a 45-count watermelon that meets high expectations for performance in the field and provides growers with a sweet reward in sales, according to Seminis. Watermelon growers desire the 45-count varieties because consumers, grocery stores and other retail outlets find they’re the ideal size.

Jet Ski is a vigorous mottle stripe, seedless watermelon. It features a deep red interior color, uniform oblong shape and consistently high average degree brix ratings at 12.6. But just as important as its physical characteristics, Jet Ski was bred to be a strong performer in the field as well. It features a low incidence of hollow heart and hard spot, two challenges that can cause devastating losses and eat into marketability for watermelon growers.

“Now more than ever, growers need varieties they can count on for quality and consistency both in the field and in the market,” Nick Pucci, east marketing lead for Vegetables by Bayer, said in a news release. “That’s why Vegetables by Bayer and Seminis have been working closely with growers to bring solutions that help them meet their specific operation needs. Jet Ski is a perfect example of that partnership. The new 45-count melon addresses some of the tougher challenges growers face in the field like hollow heart, while providing them with a sweet, highly marketable melon.”

Pucci also noted the market benefit of early season varieties like Jet Ski.

“As one of the earliest varieties in the market, Jet Ski allows farmers to get in the fields early, grow high quality watermelons and profit from higher produce prices as a result,” he said in the release.

With good plant coverage, Jet Ski is widely adaptable across the eastern U.S. It joins the other high-performing watermelon varieties in the Vegetables by Bayer Seminis watermelon portfolio, including Shoreline and Joy Ride. All varieties are available now through Seminis dealers and distributors.